These Are The Largest Airports In The World

When catching a flight somewhere, you may well use your local airport. However, depending on where you live, said airport might not actually be that big. The smaller these places are, the fewer flights they tend to have available. That means you're more likely to require a connecting flight to reach your destination.

For that reason, you may well attempt to fly from a larger airport when going on vacation. There are certainly a lot of sizable airports dotted around the world. However, none of them quite compare to the behemoths on this list. These are the largest airports in the world, and if you fly from one of these, you may well get lost before you find your gate.

5. Washington Dulles International is the fifth-largest airport in the world

According to World Population Review, the fifth largest airport in the world resides in the United States. It's Washington Dulles International, situated in the home of some of the nation's most important political buildings. Reportedly covering more than 18 square miles, it beats out some notable airports in Asia like Beijing Daxing International, Shanghai Pudong International, and Suvarnabhumi International. The airport is also larger than Egypt's Cairo International, which covers 14 square miles, and George Bush Intercontinental, which is a bit more than 17 square miles. No doubt the size is to help accommodate all the tourists and business folk eager to make the most of Washington D.C.'s historic buildings and landmarks.

4. Orlando International ranks fourth in the world, potentially thanks to tourism

Coming in fourth with a few square miles more than Washington Dulles International is another U.S. airport. This is Orlando International, which manages nearly 21 square miles in the center of Florida. This state might not be the biggest in the U.S., but evidently, there's enough space for Florida's largest airport to make its mark. Some who've never visited this airport before might be surprised that it ranks higher than most others in the world. However, Florida is a major tourist hotspot, attracting more visitors than most other states, thanks to its beaches, weather, and Disney World. With so much activity, Florida probably needed an airport that could handle the number of people constantly flying in and out of the state.

3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is both extremely large and incredibly popular

If they awarded medals to the largest airports in the world, Dallas/Fort Worth International would receive the bronze. This airport reportedly covers just shy of 27 square miles down in the South. Texas is a place that seems to embody the stereotype of everything being bigger in the United States. So, it's perhaps no surprise that it's home to one of the three largest airports around. Interestingly, it also places in the top five of the world's busiest airports, beating out the two that rank above it in terms of size. According to World Passenger Review, it sees nearly 40 million passengers a year. That's not far off Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which is the leader with almost 44 million.

2. Denver International is the second-largest airport and one of the most bizarre

Falling just shy of the top spot is Denver International. Another U.S. behemoth, this Colorado airport covers more than 50 square miles. While it might not be the biggest of all the world's airports, it does have the longest commercial-use runway in the US. Plus, it is one of the more exciting airports to visit, given the conspiracy theories that surround this place. The bizarre art has certainly gotten plenty of people talking, with some of it even removed because it's been so controversial. Plus, we can't forget about the 32-foot-tall statue of a horse that proved to be quite a dangerous installation. It apparently ended the life of Luis Jiménez - its creator - after it fell on top of him.

1. King Fahd International is the largest airport in the world

So, which airport is larger than all others in the world? Apparently, the title goes to King Fahd International in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The only airport in the top five not found in the United States, it reportedly beats the rest of the competition by quite a distance. According to World Population Review, it's around 300 square miles, setting it far ahead of second place. You could probably fit somewhere like Manhattan into this airport around 13 or so times. However, despite this impressive size, King Fahd International isn't actually the busiest airport in the world. With a reported 9.7 million travelers per year, it's not even the busiest airport in Saudi Arabia.

The size of an airport doesn't necessarily mean that it's the most efficient or that it has a lot to offer customers. However, knowing that these places are the biggest airports in the world means they're at least worth a visit, especially if you've never been to them before. If you like what you see, you may well be tempted to fly via them more often.